From: "Julius Boos" <ju-bo at msn.com> on 2004.05.19 at 23:10:20(11508)
Reply-To: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu
To: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu
Subject: [aroid-l] Another Unknown Caladium
Date: Tue, 18 May 2004 22:29:44 -0400 (EDT)
Hello Elizabeth and Friends,
I sure can, this is Caladium schomburgki, a species found in Venezuela and
Guiana. It occurs in many colors and slightly different leaf shapes, some
broader and a few slender and long enough to be called 'ribbon leaf'
Caladiums. This one may be from Dewey`s Nursery, he sells one much like
this that was collected in Venezuela MANY years ago by his friend Ralph ( as
far as I know the eldest IAS member!). It is a VERY vigorous grower that
quickly multiplies into many corms. Note the gland-like tissue where the
leaf meets the peduncle, these resemble the 'nectaries' that are found on
some tree-leaves which excrete nectar to attract ants which protect these
leaves against chewing insects and mammals, but I have not obseved any
liquid being excreted by these structures. They do not occur on all C.
schom.`s, the pink one from Trinidad and Caladium 'changur' do not have
them. There are several photos of this species on Dr. Paul Resslar`s web
page which is likked to the MOBOT aroid site.
This species has been used extensively in breeding programs, it is crossed
w/ C. bicolor to produce commercial vars. such as 'Gingerland' and Florida
Princess".
Good Growing all,
Julius
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